18 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1655 to me Gordon. He told me he was a ruitmaster, a very pretty discreet man

Passages from the diary of General Patrick Gordon of Auchleuchries : A.D. 1635-A.D. 1699"

18 DIARY OF PATRICK GORDON. [1655

to me Gordon. He told me he was a ruitmaster, a very pretty discreet man.
In the tyme of my being in this citty, I had not sought to be acquainted
with any man for severall reasons, but especially for saveing of expenses :
but now I could not be at rest untill I had gott notice where this ruitmaster
lodged, and thereupon resolved to give him a visitt, not without thoughts of
engadgeing my self. Being come to his lodging, I enquired for him, and,
by accident, light upon a servant of his called Andrew, who was a Dutch-
man, but spoke good English as haveing lived in Scotland some yeares.
He brought me immediately above to the ruitemaster, who was in company
with two or three other officers. I told him, that, hearing of a person of
such quality as he was being come to this citty, T could not be satisfyed
with myself untill I had payed my respects to him with a visitt, hopeing
that he would pardon my abrupt intrudeing myself into his company at such
a time, where, perhaps, he was bussied with weighty effaires. He answered
me that I was very welcome, and that he had not such weighty effaires as
could hinder him for giveing that entertainment which was due to a friend,
especially a countreyman and stranger. And, haveing desired me to sitt
downe, he began to enquire of my parents, wherein, having received satis-
faction, he asked me if I knew one Major Gardin. I told him I had heard
of him, but had not the honour of his acquaintance. He told me that he
was his brother, and that I must be their kinsman ; then, calling for a glass
of wine, began to be very merry, remembring all friends in Scotland ; and
then, falling to particular healths, in a short tymc we were all pretty well
warmed. All along, both he and the other officers were a battering downe
my resolution for Scotland, telling me that T would be laught at when I
should come home, and that they would tell me I had been over sea to see
what a clock it was, and returned as wise as I went out ; and what comfort
or content could any man of spirit, who had nothing to care for, have to
stay at home, when the countrey was enthralled by an imperious insulting
enemy, and no way of redresse left ? The only way for those who bore
honourable minds was to pass the tyme abroad, and better their judgements
by purchaseing experience at least. But what needed many perswasions, it
being a course to the which I was naturally enclined ? So that, without any
further circumstances, I give my promise to go along, and that, without
makeing any capitulation. So ignorant I was of such matters at that tyme.
The next morning, when I had slept out, and began to reflect upon my